Joining
the staff at the Air Ministry, he was responsible for making the suggestion, in
1923, that the RAF and the RAAF should carry out exchanges of officers.As a result he was himself posted to his native Australia in 1925 as DCAS.He suggested sending 20 squadrons to the Caucasus to assist the Russians
under the codename Operation 'Velvet'.However,
Stalin refused the offer but asked for the equivalent number of aircraft
instead.He was offered the
position of Air C in C, SEAC in 1944, but declined the post which was therefore
offered to Leigh-Mallory.Feeling
that he may have been fortunate not to meet Leigh-Mallory's fate by declining
the post, he set off in March 1945 to Canada in order to take part in the
official ceremony to mark the closing down of the Commonwealth Air Training
Plan.He was flying aboard the
Liberator 'Commando', of No 45 Group Communications Squadron, which had once
beenChurchill's personnel
aircraft, together with Commander R A Breadner; Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for Air, Sir John Abraham; Deputy Under Secretary at the Air Ministry and Mr.
H A Jones; Director of Public Relations.On 27 March 1945 the aircraft was last heard of near the Azores and has
never been heard from again.So
having avoided flying into a mountain in the Alps he was appears to have
disappeared over the Atlantic.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order

"Capt. Roy Maxwell Drummond, M.C.,R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion toduty. While escorting a reconnaissance, on
three hostile 'planes being encountered heat once
attacked and' drove down one ofthese, although he was
being himself attackedin the rear by the remaining
two. Drawingthese latter away from the reconnaissancemachine, he turned, attacked and followedone of these dawn to a lower altitude,
despiteheavy anti-aircraft fire. This machine wasthen seen to strike the ground and turn over.He then attacked the third machine, and,after
a long burst of fire at close range, bothwings of the
enemy plane were observed tocollapse in the air. The
whole action wascharacterised by the great skill and
daringof this officer."

(London
Gazette - 24 August 1918)

Announcement in the
London Gazette - 22 Jul 1921

"The KING has been
graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire in recognition of distinguished services
in the operations against the Garjak Nuers in 1920: —

To be an, Officer of
the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order.

This officer performed
most excellent work in command of H. Unit, Royal Air Force.
Notwithstanding the adverse conditions that were met with, both at the
aerodrome and in the air, the work performed by his unit in reconnaissance of
the country and bombing expeditions, was one of the decisive factors leading to
the success of the operations. The capable handling of his unit and the method
of carrying out the duties assigned to him are deserving of the highest
praise."